Top left to right: Luis Avila, Michael Curtis, Patricia Griswold, David Hall

Bottom left to right: Dr. Leadriane Roby, Josh Sayles, Jeff Smith, Alex Thibodeau

For Immediate Release

Grand Rapids Art Museum Appoints New Board Members and Officers

Each trustee brings invaluable leadership and expertise that support museum operations

GRAND RAPIDS, MI, December 18, 2024 — The Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) is pleased to announce the election of seven new members to its board of trustees. Luis Avila rejoins the museum board of trustees alongside new trustees Patricia Griswold, Dr. Leadriane Roby, Josh Sayles, and Jeff Smith. Michael Curtis and David Hall join the foundation board of trustees.
 
Alongside these appointments, GRAM welcomes new officers to its museum board of trustees. The appointments include Jeff Smith as president, previously serving on the foundation board of trustees, and Josh Sayles and Alex Thibodeau as co-secre­taries/trea­surers. Each board officer serves a 2‑year term.
 
About the Appointees
 
Luis Avila, Varnum, LLP
Luis Avila is a partner at Varnum, LLP, where he focuses on labor and employment matters in private and public industries. Luis has received many community and legal honors throughout his career, including recognition by Best Lawyers in America® and Crain’s Grand Rapids 40 under 40 Business Leaders, each on multiple occasions. His board service includes the Downtown Development Authority, the Grand Rapids Symphony, and the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
 
Michael Curtis, J.P. Morgan
Michael Curtis is vice president and banker at J.P. Morgan Private Bank’s Grand Rapids office. Over the last two decades, Mike has immersed himself in all facets of wealth planning, previously serving as a relationship strategist at PNC Private Bank and trust officer at U.S. Trust/​Bank of America Private Wealth Management. He began his career as a portfolio officer at Merrill Lynch and an associate attorney at Burke & White, P.C.
 
Patricia Griswold, Community Volunteer
Patricia (Patti) K. Griswold retired from Comerica Bank in 2017 where she served as the Michigan market manager for retail banking. She now devotes her time and leadership skills to non-profit organizations in West Michigan. Patti co-led the formation of Inforum West Michigan in 2004 and has served in several volunteer positions in the community, including leadership roles with the Cherry Health Foundation, Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women, and Michigan Women Forward.
 
David Hall, Barnes & Thornburg LLP
David is a corporate finance attorney and partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP’s Grand Rapids office. Prior to joining Barnes & Thornburg, David worked for two of the largest international Am 100 law firms in the country and served as deputy general counsel to the Governor of Illinois in the Office of Management and Budget. David serves on the East Grand Rapids Schools Foundation Board of Directors and the Project Review Committee of the Land Conservancy of West Michigan. 
 
Dr. Leadriane Roby, Grand Rapids Public Schools
Dr. Leadriane Roby is the superintendent of Grand Rapids Public Schools, a position she has held since 2020. Under Dr. Roby’s leadership, GRPS has achieved significant milestones, including record-high graduation rates and the largest enrollment growth in over two decades. Before serving as superintendent of GRPS, Dr. Roby held several leadership and teaching roles in districts in both Michigan and Minnesota. Dr. Roby serves on numerous committees and boards, including the MI Association of AA Superintendents, the Corewell Health Community Advisory Committee, The Economic Club of Grand Rapids, and the Heart of West Michigan United Way, among many others.
 
Josh Sayles, Ernst & Young
Josh Sayles is an assurance senior manager at Ernst & Young (EY) and a certified public accountant. At EY, he has experience in both public and private financial statement audits and has served in internal technical accounting roles. Josh also currently serves as the secretary/​treasurer of the board at First Steps Kent. 
 
Jeff Smith, Community Volunteer
Jeff retired from Ernst & Young in 2019 after a 35-year career. While there, he served in a variety of positions in Grand Rapids, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., where he led several practice groups and focused primarily on family-owned companies and private equity. Jeff has volunteered his leadership skills at GRAM throughout his career, in addition to holding non-profit board roles at Michigan State University, the Metropolitan Planning Council of Chicago, Friends of the Frankfort Garden Theater, and the Frankfort Tree Board. 
 
Alex Thibodeau, Warner Norcross + Judd
Alex Thibodeau is an attorney at Warner Norcross + Judd whose litigation practice spans construction, real estate, insurance, commercial disputes, and emerging technologies. His previous experience includes working as a senior leader and appointments division director within the Executive Office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and as an associate with Varnum LLP and Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC. Alex has served as a GRAM board member since 2022, and he is very involved in the legal community as president of the Floyd Skinner Bar Association and as a trustee of the Grand Rapids Bar Association.
 
2024 – 2025 GRAM Board of Trustees
Museum Board of Trustees

  • Jeff Smith, President
  • Lizbeth O’Shaughnessy, Vice President 
  • Josh Sayles, Co-Secre­tary/​Trea­surer
  • Alexander Thibodeau, Co-Secre­tary/​Trea­surer
  • Luis Avila
  • Scott Branc
  • Pat Brewer
  • Erin Gravelyn
  • Patricia Griswold
  • Jeffrey Gurney
  • India Manns
  • Jane Boyles Meilner
  • Stephanie Naito
  • Jim Overbeck
  • Alfield Reeves
  • Dr. Leadriane Roby 
  • Carol Sarosik
  • James Schipper
  • Judy Tyner
  • Mitchell Watt

Foundation Board of Trustees 

  • Lauretta K. Murphy, President
  • Jim Overbeck, Secretary/​Treasurer
  • Corinne Curtis
  • Michael Curtis
  • Thomas A. DeMeester
  • David Hall
  • William Lowry
  • Janet Nisbett
  • Douglas Padnos

Honorary Trustees 

  • Patricia Betz
  • Margaret Bradshaw*
  • Anita Carter
  • Peter Cook*
  • Marilyn Crawford
  • Pamella DeVos
  • Marilyn Q. Drake
  • David G. Frey*
  • Dirk Hoffius
  • William Johnston*
  • Mary Ann Keeler*
  • Lucille King*
  • Sylvia Krissoff*
  • Mary Loupee
  • Fred Meijer*
  • Mary Nelson
  • Peter Wege*
  • Kate Pew Wolters

*In memoriam

About the Grand Rapids Art Museum  
Connecting people through art, creativity, and design. Established in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, the Museum is internationally known for its distinguished design and status as the world’s first LEED® Gold certified art museum. Founded in 1910 as the Grand Rapids Art Association, GRAM has grown to include more than 6,500 works of art, including American and European 19th and 20th-century painting and sculpture and more than 3,000 works on paper. Embracing the city’s legacy as a leading center of design and manufacturing, GRAM has a growing collection in the area of design and modern craft. For museum hours and admission fees, call 616.831.1000 or visit artmuseumgr.org.
 

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